Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
04/04/2019 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB81 | |
| HB60 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 60 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 4, 2019
8:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Harriet Drummond, Co-Chair
Representative Sara Hannan, Co-Chair
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Sharon Jackson
Representative Josh Revak
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 81
"An Act prohibiting disposable plastic shopping bags; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 60
"An Act repealing the senior benefits payment program; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 81
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOSEPHSON
03/06/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/06/19 (H) CRA, L&C
04/04/19 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 60
SHORT TITLE: REPEALING SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/20/19 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/19 (H) CRA, HSS, FIN
04/04/19 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 81.
ELISE SORUM-BIRK, Staff
Representative Andy Josephson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a PowerPoint presentation during the
hearing on HB 81, on behalf of Representative Josephson, prime
sponsor.
CAROL MONTGOMERY
Mat-Su Zero Waste Coalition Plastic Bag Committee
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on HB 81, offered
information regarding the detrimental effects of plastic bags
when consumed by ruminants.
EVE DOWNING
Alaska Youth Environmental Action
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 81.
SHAWNDA O-BRIEN, Director
Division of Public Assistance
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information during the hearing on
HB 60.
FAITH MYERS
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
KEN HELANDER, Advocacy Director
AARP Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
MARY GEDDES
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
LAURA BONNER
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
ROBERTA STEVENS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
KEREN KELLEY
Homer Senior Citizens, Inc.
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
JIM HORNADAY
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to the removal of
the senior benefit.
DALBERT PUNGOWIYI, President
Native Council of Savoonga
Savoonga, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
DAVID BLACKETER, Immediate Past Chair
Alaska Commission on Aging
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
DAVID OTNESS
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
MIKE COONS, President
Association of Mature American Citizens - Greater Alaska
Chapter; Public Member
Commission on Aging
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 60.
PATRICK CURTIS, Program Director
Anchorage Senior Activity Center
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
ANNE DOERPINGHAUS
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
JONATHAN STRONG
Senior Citizens of Kodiak
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
KAREN CAMERON
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
GORDON GLASER
Anchorage Senior Activities Center
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
GEORGE PIERCE
Kasilof, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
IDA NELSON
Igiugig, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
PAUL SHERRY
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
JO KENNEDY
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
NIKKI POLLOCK, Director
Senior Services
Bethel, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
MATT DONAHOE
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
JAYME ANDREAN, Volunteer
AARP; Chair
Juneau AARP Community Action Team
Douglas, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 60.
DENICE DAIELLA, Executive Director
Alaskan Commission on Aging
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
ERIN WALKEN TOLLES, Executive Director
Catholic Community Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
CAROLINE DEMMERT
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
ANN STEPETIN
Elderly Services
Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
("Tlingit & Haida")
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
BARBARA BOLTON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
MARY ALICE KNOTTS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
INDIANNA TURKISHER, Manager
Food Bank of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
TERESA MCLAIN
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
WILLIAM HARRINGTON
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 60.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:02:00 AM
CO-CHAIR HARRIET DRUMMOND called the House Community and
Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:02
a.m. Representatives Revak, Kreiss-Tomkins, Thompson, Jackson,
Hannan, and Drummond were present at the call to order.
Representative Claman arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 81-PROHIBIT PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS
8:02:56 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 81, "An Act prohibiting disposable
plastic shopping bags; and providing for an effective date."
8:03:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, introduced HB 81. He said this legislation
originally was filed in January 2018; it was modified and made
it through two committees last year. He said the impetus for HB
81 is the scourge of plastic bags. He related there is a
plastic bag in a tree across the street from the Capitol
Building that has been there for a couple years now. He said
some may ask the reason for "picking on this industry and not
others," and he opined, "We have to have a starting place."
Representative Josephson said that "this is a national
movement." He said that when the committee hears public
testimony, it would hear from people all over the state that
"are willing to be inconvenienced for our environment." He said
[plastic refuse] does not only have a [negative] visual impact;
it also impacts waterways and wildlife.
8:05:55 AM
ELISE SORUM-BIRK, Staff, Representative Andy Josephson, Alaska
State Legislature, gave a PowerPoint presentation related to HB
81 on behalf of Representative Josephson, primer sponsor. She
directed attention to slide 2, "Motivations," and she stated
that plastics do not belong in nature. She echoed
Representative Josephson's remark that plastic is harmful to
wildlife and the marine environment. She said there have been
multiple news stories in the last month related to whales dying
as a result of ingesting massive amounts of plastics. In
Alaska, there has been at least one recorded death of a Northern
fur seal resulting from entanglement.
MS. SORUM-BIRK shared that she used to be an early childhood
educator working in an outdoor summer program. She said she is
aware that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) has a curriculum completely based around marine debris
and plastic issues; it's called, "Lose the Loop." She said,
"It's a huge issue for this national agency." She stated that a
plastic bag ban is "a small but significant step in addressing
the global plastics problem and the issue of single-use plastics
in general."
8:07:33 AM
MS. SORUM-BIRK directed attention to slide 3, "Why Plastic
Bags?" She noted that the sponsor of the bill is shown in a
photo looking unpleased at having found a plastic bag while
kayaking. As shown on the slide, she related that plastic bags
are "a major plastic offender" because they are lightweight,
thus they transport easily in wind and water. She said new
habits are necessary and have already been adopted by
communities worldwide. Ms. Sorum-Birk turned to slide 4, titled
"Plastic Bags in the Environment," which displays a diagram
depicting how plastic interacts with the ecosystem. She
explained that [persistent] organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate
in fatty tissue and [toxins increase in concentration up the
food chain]. She said that makes her think of salmon and
whales, both of which are depended upon as food resources by
subsistence communities.
MS. SORUM-BIRK moved on to slide 5, titled "Why a Ban?" She
said in last year's related legislation, a fee for plastic bag
use was proposed. She said bans are more common. She related
that stores are already subsidizing for the cost of bags by
charging more for goods purchased, with an estimated cost of
$25-$50 per person each year. She pointed out the photo(s) of
the aforementioned bag in the tree across the street. Focusing
on slide 6, titled "International Policy Trends," she reported
that there are more than 40 countries that have a plastic bag
ban, and that number continues to rise: Bangladesh was the
first in 2002; Kenya has the strictest ban. She said a reporter
in The Guardian wrote that this ban has sparked interest in
neighboring countries, and "the once ubiquitous issue of plastic
bag litter is in decline in Kenya." She said there is less
litter and fewer fishermen pulling up plastic bags in their nets
on Lake Victoria. She said the bottom of slide 6 shows the many
[countries] that will enact plastic bags in 2018, 2019, 2020,
and 2021. She noted that the European Union has gone further by
banning many single-use plastic items; that ban will go into
effect in 2021.
MS. SORUM-BIRK turned to slide 7, titled "Policy Trends - Lower
49." She said California was the first state to ban plastic
bags; this past week New York became the second state to fully
ban plastic bags; and all the municipalities in Hawai'i have
banned plastic bags although there is no statewide law to that
effect. She noted that the slide shows other states that have
municipalities within them that have banned bags, and she
observed that Alaska should have been included on that list.
8:11:15 AM
MS. SORUM-BIRK moved on to slide 8, titled "Alaska." She stated
that in Alaska 17 communities no longer allow plastic bags;
Denali Borough and the City of Homer are considering a plastic
bag ban; Homer has "gone back and forth for several years" but
will have the issue on its ballot this year. She reported that
Anchorage has a [plastic] bag ban in place that will go into
effect in September 2019. She noted that those communities on
slide 8 that are listed with an asterisk next to the name are
communities that "voluntarily stopped using plastic bags out of
concern for environmental health."
MS. SORUM-BIRK directed attention to slide 9, titled "The
Resource(ful) State." For example, some people have crocheted
plastic bags into new, reusable plastic bags. Not on the list
is "Boomerang Bags" - a national movement to make, provide, or
share reusable bags. Another movement is called, "Take a
Bag/Leave a Bag," where people donate their bags, which then get
sterilized and put out at stores for use by people who have
neglected to bring their own bags. She shared that her alma
mater, Valdez High School, has a club that makes bags out of old
tee shirts. She said, "So, these creative solutions show that
you can reuse materials and get to the root of how a carbon
footprint can be reduced ...."
MS. SORUM-BIRK turned to slide 10, titled "Ruminant Ingestion of
Plastic." She stated that this issue was a big motivation for
the ban of plastic bags in the Matanuska-Susitna ("Mat-Su")
Valley. She said the slide illustrates that the problem [with
plastic bags] is not just a coastal problem. She talked about
caribou that have had a hole cut in their sides and plastic was
found in the digestive tracts of these caribou. She indicated
that Carol Montgomery would testify later and talk about this
subject.
8:13:48 AM
MS. SORUM-BIRK proceeded to slide 11, titled "Section 1." She
said the proposed legislation would add a new section to AS
46.06. AS 46.06.145(a) would establish a ban on retailers
[providing disposable plastic shopping bags to customers];
[subsection](b) would provide exceptions to the bag ban,
including bags that hold produce and meat, newspaper bags, and
bags for flowers; [subsection](c) would establish fines of $250
for the first violation, $500 for the second violation, and $750
for each additional violation - these would be within a calendar
year; [subsection](e) would provide definitions for "disposable
[plastic] shopping bag," "retail seller," and "reusable bag."
She said it is important to note that a reusable bag can be
plastic, as long as it is at least 4 mils in thickness. As
shown on slide 12, Ms. Sorum-Birk stated that Section 2 of the
proposed legislation would provide an effective date of January
[1], 2021, which would give retailers the time to adapt and use
up the stock of plastic bags they already have.
8:15:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN questioned why the state should take
action when it seems an increasing number of local communities
are taking action on their own to ban plastic bags.
MS. SORUM-BIRK answered that many communities in Alaska lack
municipal government because they are not incorporated, and HB
81 could benefit those communities. In response to a follow-up
question, she reiterated that the effective date proposed under
HB 81 should allow retailers to use up their existing stock of
plastic bags before the ban takes effect.
8:16:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON noted that when he was young, paper bag
use was frowned upon because the use of paper bags meant trees
were being cut down, and the use of plastic bags back then was
encouraged. Now things have turned around. He indicated that
he was confused as to how, under HB 81, allowed and nonallowed
use would be separated. He further indicated that after the ban
is in place, people who [reuse] existing plastic bags may be
fined.
8:18:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON speculated that "the difference between
the types of bags is so readily apparent that it won't become an
issue."
MS. SORUM-BIRK advised that HB 81 clearly outlines [disposable]
plastic shopping bags and lists exceptions [to the proposed
prohibition]. She said the use of paper [bags] is "in no way
environmentally benign," and many municipalities nationwide have
imposed fees on the use of paper bags. Nevertheless, she
pointed out that paper bags are biodegradable.
8:19:40 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened invited testimony.
8:19:57 AM
CAROL MONTGOMERY, Mat-Su Zero Waste Coalition Plastic Bag
Committee, reported that a student visiting the recycling center
talked about having seen Dr. Collins, of the Matanuska
Experiment Farm, pull plastic bags out of a research moose
fitted with a fistula. Ms. Montgomery said she then talked to
Dr. Collins, who told her he had lost a couple of caribou before
figuring out "what was going on." She said one time Dr. Collins
pulled a wedge of plastic bags as big as a football out of a
caribou. She said a video was taken showing Dr. Collins
removing plastic from the stomach of a moose. She said the
coalition found out that the Williams Reindeer Farm and the
Agate Inn have lost many reindeer as a result of plastic bag
obstruction. She said those were deaths confirmed through
necropsy. She pointed out that it is rare for wild animals to
necropsied, because it is an expensive procedure. Ms.
Montgomery said she called Kimberly Beckman, a [veterinarian]
for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), in Fairbanks,
and she confirmed a musk ox calf had asphyxiated on a plastic
bag and a turtle from the Alaska SeaLife Center [in Seward] had
died from plastic bag consumption.
MS. MONTGOMERY said the coalition started outreach to community
groups to spread awareness "about what was going on," and people
were receptive to learning about the issue. The coalition
approached the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, and people
donated money, which the coalition used to run some radio spots
and buy [reusable] bags to be handed out in grocery stores. She
said Mayor Bert Cottle took on the issue in Wasilla, where the
public testimony was overwhelmingly in favor: 47 to 1 in
written testimony, 2 to 1 in public testimony, and 5 to 1 by
vote of the city council. She reported that Channel 11 News
conducted a survey that showed "75 percent were in favor of
extending the bag ban to Anchorage." She said [the plastic bag
ban] in Wasilla has been in effect almost a year and in Palmer
three months, and already the area is cleaner; a windstorm
currently in effect has resulted in far fewer plastic bags
"stuck" in parking lots of grocery stores. She noted that
tourists who rode the Alaska Railroad used to complain about the
amount of trash, but that area is "already much better." Ms.
Montgomery emphasized the bottom line is that [adjusting to a
plastic ban] is "no big deal."
8:24:05 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked for definition of fistula, as used in
ruminants.
MS. MONTGOMERY answered that it is a devise [that can be
implanted in the side of ruminates] that allows for a person to
reach in to [the rumen] and extract its contents. She indicated
that many reindeer on farms have died because "they don't have
that option." She said the owners of Agate Inn, in Wasilla,
reported one of their reindeer suffered a heart attack after
consuming plastic bags; there were so many bags in the
reindeer's rumen that they put pressure on his heart. She said
reindeer forage for food by pawing the ground, and despite
efforts to keep the area clean, the reindeer still consume
plastic bags.
8:25:52 AM
EVE DOWNING, Alaska Youth Environmental Action, stated that the
plastic bag ban in Soldotna, Alaska, has positively impacted her
community. She said most community members have gotten into the
habit of bringing reusable bags to the store when they shop, and
many of them have said they just needed "a push" to remember to
bring reusable bags. She said there are no longer plastic bags
floating through the streets or getting caught in trees. She
said she is always surprised to visit communities that still
allow plastic bags, because such bags are "a tool of the past."
She said her community caters to tourism, and plastic bags are a
detriment to the beauty of Soldotna. She said single-use
plastic bags are detrimental to the wildlife surrounding her
community; many animals have died from consuming plastic bags.
She stated that fishing is also an important economy of
Soldotna, but when single-use plastic bags float into streams
and other waterways, they are consumed by fish and other marine
creatures, which can block the digestive tracks of those animals
and cause them to starve to death. She indicated that plastic
consumed by salmon, for example, can end up consumed by humans.
She opined that banning [plastic] bags is a step toward "being
conscious of the impact that we have on the environment around
us, as well as a step toward a sustainable future for Alaska."
Ms. Downing concluded by expressing support for HB 81. In
response to Co-Chair Drummond, she confirmed that the plastic
bag ban to which she had referred applies only to Soldotna.
8:29:07 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that HB 81 was held over.
HB 60-REPEALING SENIOR BENEFITS PAYMENT PROGRAM
8:29:16 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 60, "An Act repealing the senior
benefits payment program; and providing for an effective date."
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted that House Bill 236, [passed during the
Thirtieth Alaska State Legislature], with the short title of
"Extend Senior Benefits Program," passed both the House and
Senate nearly unanimously with bi-partisan support; it had 19
co-sponsors in the House and 16 cross-sponsors in the Senate.
She related that the bill extended the Senior Benefits Program
until 2024. She continued as follows:
We want to hear directly from the administration on
what they are trying to accomplish by taking away
these benefits from over 11,000 low-income elders and
seniors in our state, who are usually on a fixed
income and can't just go out and get a job to make up
for the loss of these benefits every month.
8:30:32 AM
SHAWNDA O-BRIEN, Director, Division of Public Assistance,
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), referred to
handouts [included in the committee packet] that point out "the
population being served" and some U.S. Census information
regarding where that population is located. She directed
attention to a handout, titled "Senior Benefits Program
Information & Fact Sheet Updated January 2019." She pointed out
that the first couple paragraphs of the first page give an
overview of the different levels of the payment scale, as well
as some of the eligibility criteria for those participating in
the program. At the bottom of the first page is last year's
eligibility information related to income limits; this
information gets updated annually on April 1. Page 2 of the
handout gives historical information "that breaks out that same
detail for the past several years going back to 2016" to show
income limits of those who have participated in the program. It
also shows where the department has had to lower the benefit
payment level for the lowest tier in the program "to accommodate
what's been budgeted for the fiscal year." Over the last couple
years, the lowest payment amount has had to be reduced. The
final page of the handout, she noted, shows census-derived
information regarding where program recipients live now, as well
as the history of the Senior Benefits Program since its
inception.
8:33:13 AM
MS. O'BRIEN said the other handouts give perspective on the
dollars being spent by "the benefit tiers within the program."
She said, "We have been paying the lowest tier of the program -
$76 in place of the $125 that's usually allotted to that payment
category. You'll see that we have about 4,731 people that are
participating at that lowest tier." She added, "Based on our
regulations, we're able to reduce or eliminate that lowest tier
to allow for the payments to continue for folks who have a
higher need for the funds." She said there are approximately
11,000 participants in the program, 3,000 of whom do not receive
benefits from any other DHSS program. The remaining 9,000 or so
might be eligible for other programs the department administers,
such as [the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]
(SNAP) or Adult Public Assistance - or both.
8:34:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS remarked that although the
information in the committee packet is "helpful," he does not
see any explanation as to the reason for the proposal to
eliminate the Senior Benefits Program.
MS. O'BRIEN responded:
The administration is in a tough position for having
to find places where we have general fund spending
that can be eliminated without a lot of regulation or
other things. In this case ... the bill is being
introduced to reduce or eliminate the program
entirely. This is an entirely general fund-funded
program, and so there aren't a lot of places within
... our budget that have programs that are funded 100
percent with general funds, and so to find areas that
can be eliminated - this was one of those areas.
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he was trying to imagine "who
drew the short straw in the administration to present this
bill." He added, "I would love to see the commissioner here
next time to explain the administration's perspective why the
financial benefit of eliminating this program is worth the
hardship it'll impose on Alaska seniors." He asked how long Ms.
O'Brien has been in her position and what she thinks the impact
of eliminating the program would be.
MS. O'BRIEN answered that she was appointed into her position in
January [2019] but has worked in DHSS for approximately 13
years. She continued as follows:
I believe that the impact is inevitable .... As was
mentioned previously, these are dollars going to
people in the communities who don't, maybe, have other
means available to them. To the degree that some
folks are participating in other programs - like our
SNAP Program and the Adult Public Assistance Program -
those benefits can be adjusted for the loss in income
for the Senior Benefits Program. And so, to the
degree that some of those recipients might see an
increase to their food stamps or to their adult public
assistance benefits, the division will be reviewing
... those pieces should this bill pass.
8:37:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON stated that he finds it difficult "to go
after our most vulnerable population - the elderly." He
observed that in order to get the $250 per month, the income of
the elderly recipient is "super low." With this money, he said
these recipients are trying to buy food and medication, and
without these funds they [must choose between the two]. He said
he is having a hard time "adjusting to" or "agreeing with" [HB
60]. He asked Ms. O'Brien if the administration is hearing from
advocacy groups in Alaska on "the effects this will have on
seniors."
MS. O'BRIEN answered yes, from some of the advocacy groups. She
added that the administration also has received feedback from
recipients.
8:38:05 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked Ms. O'Brien to "overlay" senior benefits
with food stamps and elderly public assistance. She explained,
"When I look at the chart for senior benefits, I guess I just
presume that all of them, with those income levels, would
already be eligible to those programs." She clarified that she
wants illustrated "the intersect between the financial
thresholds for those folks."
MS. O'BRIEN replied that there is another handout she could send
to the committee that gives examples of "how some of those
impacts would look" and "what the different criteria are." She
further offered to send information showing the various income
categories. She said some of the programs vary in their
eligibility criteria regarding allowed assets that do not count
toward the applicant's income. She explained, "That's when you
might not be seeing some of those details, where it does appear
that the ... income itself is fairly low, but there may be other
things that are preventing folks from being eligible for those
other programs."
CO-CHAIR HANNAN asked whether the homeowner's tax paid by
someone who is mortgage-free is not relevant as far as receiving
senior benefits but is relevant in terms of receiving food
stamps.
MS. O'BRIEN responded, "Right." She said the first page offers
a summary-level overview of the eligibility criteria. She
explained that eligibility is based on a person's annual gross
income before any other considerations. Assets, such as
savings, are not included; a person could own his/her own home.
She said there were other details she could provide later.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN offered an example of someone who had written to
the House Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.
She said the person receives senior benefits of $1,100 a month
and receives $19 in food stamps monthly. She asked, "So, some
of our food stamp eligibility is that low?"
MS. O'BRIEN answered yes.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN concluded then that with loss, at $700 a month,
a person would probably be receiving $175 a month in senior
benefits. She asked, "Would their food stamp eligibility
increase by up to $175 a month?"
MS. O'BRIEN answered no, the person would not receive an
incrementally adjusted increase to his/her food stamps, but the
person's eligibility would change. She clarified, "So, they
would receive an increase - just not dollar for dollar."
CO-CHAIR HANNAN said when she read the amount of $19 regarding
food stamps, she thought it must have been a typographical
error. She asked if it was possible someone actually could be
receiving an even lower amount.
MS. O'BRIEN replied she would follow-up with Co-Chair Hannan and
the committee about the varying payments levels within the SNAP
program, because she said she is not sure whether there are
lower levels. She said she could also provide an overview of
how the eligibility scale looks in each of the programs and how
they interact.
CO-CHAIR HANNAN stated, "When we hear [the term] 'food stamps,'
I guess there's a presumption that it's enough money to buy
food. And as this person articulates, that $19 buys them
ramen." From the person's communication, Co-Chair Hannan read,
"I'm too old to hunt and fish, so I don't eat meat or fish, and
I can buy some ramen, and that's it." She said she cannot
imagine how that must feel and "what kind of hopeless that must
present." The person cannot hunt or fish or get a job that will
provide income. She concluded, "I am horrified at my level of
ignorance about how little support we give to people that are
living on the margin, and more information would be helpful, but
I'm not sure it will be satisfying."
8:43:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked if the administration's budget cut
would not be able to go through if the legislature chose not to
make these statutory changes.
MS. O'BRIEN answered, "It's already been reduced out of the
budget, so there would have to be some action to put the funds
back into the budget."
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked whether, if the legislature put the
money back in, the governor would be violating law if he tried
to line-item veto the money back out if HB 60 does not pass.
MS. O'BRIEN responded that she is not certain about the
legalities in this regard.
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked, "Is this just another area where
the governor's highest priority is that $3,000 [permanent fund]
dividend [(PFD)], and so to make that $3,000 dividend we have to
make these cuts that are reflected in this proposed legislative
change?"
MS. O'BRIEN responded that the reduction in the budget was the
administration's effort to reduce the budget "to balance with
our revenues."
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN suggested that the governor's priority is
the $3,000 dividend over seniors.
MS. O'BRIEN replied, "I believe the way that it ... has been
presented is that we are ... reducing our general fund spending
to align with our revenue collections - what revenues that we
have in the state."
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN aligned with the former comments of
Representative Kreiss-Tomkins that he is disappointed the
commissioner is not present and that Ms. O'Brien "drew the short
straw."
8:45:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON reviewed that 11,500 is the total in
recipients, while 3,000 have no other assistance. She asked if
there are other programs available to assist those 3,000.
MS. O'BRIEN replied there is a possibility that those folks may
become eligible for other programs for which they are not
currently eligible. For example, the loss in public assistance
may make a person eligible for SNAP or Adult Public Assistance.
She added, "If they're eligible, they would apply for the
programs that they're not currently participating in, and we'll
review that eligibility at that time."
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON stated, "I'm just saying, ... because the
PFD keeps coming up, and it breaks my heart that they didn't
receive funds that they could have received in the last two
years." She remarked upon the previously mentioned amount of
$19 in food stamps and how much food and medication it would be
possible to buy.
8:46:55 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND said it sounds like if these proposed cuts go
through and the department must assess potential recipients for
other sources of benefits, it won't save much in staff time.
She asked if consideration had been given to the effort that
would be needed to help "potentially past recipients" find other
sources of assistance.
MS. O'BRIEN replied that the division is limited in its ability
to help folks identify other resources; however, there are other
groups in the department more aligned with that kind of
outreach. She said the Division of Public Assistance would look
at eligibility information and provide information to the
recipients as to their eligibility to receive SNAP and Adult
Public Assistance.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND said she assumed the proposed cuts would also
result in a cut to staff that administers the programs.
MS. O'BRIEN said a fiscal note shows that within the division
three full-time positions would be eliminated. She said in the
past the program was staffed at a higher level, but redesign
lowered the number. She said there would be cost reductions in
other areas, as well, such as "mailing out warrants and thing of
that nature." In response to Co-Chair Drummond, she confirmed
that "warrant" means a check.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND echoed a previously stated concern that the
commissioner had not been available for many hearings, including
this one.
8:49:37 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on HB 60. She
announced that there would be a time limit of two minutes per
testifier.
8:50:22 AM
FAITH MYERS said she is a senior, a volunteer senior advocate,
and is testifying in opposition to HB 60. She opined that the
state senior benefit program should not be discontinued, because
senior benefits are means-tested. The majority of recipients
are listed at or below the poverty level and some have a
disability. She said she is a recipient of senior benefits who
has a disability and lives at the poverty level. She asserted
that here is a connection between being able to pay bills and
mental health. Ms. Myers shared that she receives only $931 a
month from Social Security; the Adult Public Assistance and
Senior Benefits Program have to supplement that amount, but she
does not receive a total that is much higher than the poverty
level of income. She said she is dependent upon senior benefits
to pay her bills. She stated that as long as the Senior
Benefits Program is means-tested, it should be continued. She
reemphasized that she does not support the passage of HB 60.
8:52:19 AM
KEN HELANDER, Advocacy Director, AARP Alaska, testified in
opposition to HB 60. He relayed that his comments are a follow-
up to an op-ed that was published in the Anchorage Daily News a
few weeks ago, which further spells out what the impact would be
of the proposed repeal of the Senior Benefits Program. Mr.
Helander stated that about four years ago, the legislature
reduced the budget for senior benefits, resulting in the loss of
approximately $49 a month for beneficiaries in the higher income
tier, from $125 to $76 a month, which represents nearly $600 a
year lost to those beneficiaries. He said the AARP Alaska
office started receiving phone calls from panicked seniors, who
"were fearful of what that loss would mean to their lives." Mr.
Helander said he has never forgotten those calls; they motivated
him to advocate for senior benefits. He related that two
summers ago, as the Senior Benefits Program was up for
reauthorization, Representative Spohnholz and then
Representative Kawasaki held an informal listening session on
behalf of the House Health and Social Services Standing
Committee, and in over three hours, more than 50 people called
in from around Alaska to describe what the Senior Benefits
Program means to them. He said his "takeaway" from listening to
those comments was that "this money, as small of an amount as it
is, is used by each recipient within their own life situation to
help them live independently, with purpose, to help maintain
their health, and ultimately to make a difference in the
community of people around them."
MR. HELANDER shared that one woman called to say that her $76 a
month allowed her to keep her car running, and she was the only
one in her circle of friends who still had a car, and with that
car she could meet the transportation needs of herself and her
friends. He said, "In fact, she was the transportation system
for her individual community." Mr. Helander said other people
shared stories reflecting each person's determination "not just
to get a pittance of support from the state, but more
importantly to always try to be a help to the people around
them." He emphasized the importance of that one woman's car in
helping others to access groceries and care. He said, "This
isn't about a handout; it's about an investment. It allows
older, albeit materially poor Alaskans to prevent being poor in
spirit." He indicated that these seniors would become more
expensive if they could no longer be on their own. He
concluded, "The Senior Benefits Program is an investment with
great return that we should carefully protect, because the cost
of losing it would be ever so much greater."
8:56:03 AM
MARY GEDDES stated that she has been an Alaskan for 35 years and
is testifying in opposition to HB 60. She stated her belief
that the Senior Benefits Program, which provides financial
support to eligible elders, is "a crucial, needs-based source of
support for many individuals with chronic health problems,
mental illness, dementia, and other disabilities." She said the
solution to Alaska's budget situation cannot be "to kick 11,000
low-income seniors to the proverbial curb."
8:56:55 AM
LAURA BONNER told the committee that she is retired and has
lived in Alaska since 1972. She said stated opposition to HB
60. She relayed that she has been fortunate to never have been
eligible for the program, but [cutting] the Senior Benefits
Program would cause those vulnerable seniors to fall further
into poverty. She said many of those seniors are women, who
worked low-paying jobs without social security, left employment
early, or never had the opportunity to make money, perhaps
because they were taking care of a loved one. She asked
committee members to consider whether they could live on under
$1,000 per month, especially if battling a chronic illness, and
what they would choose to pay for: lifesaving medication, food,
heat, or transportation to health care. She said malnutrition
is common in some senior populations. She stated, "It's
unconscionable to eliminate this and other programs that serve
the vulnerable and pay tax credits to the wealthy corporations
in the world. She said there has been little analysis, and she
offered her understanding that the person who had presented the
bill the committee had said [the Senior Benefits Program] would
be one of the easiest to cut. She urged the committee to "kill"
HB 60 because "it's bad for Alaska."
8:58:41 AM
ROBERTA STEVENS stated that although she does not receive senior
benefits, she is aware of many friends and neighbors that do and
are thus being saved from possible homelessness and the
inability to pay for medicine. She said it is frightening for
people who are unable to work, due to health or age, to have
"this small amount of money taken away from them entirely." She
said this would take away their independence, and she does not
know where these folks would go when they lose their homes. She
stated her opposition to HB 60, and she said she hopes the
committee will "kill the bill quickly and put it out of its
misery."
8:59:55 AM
KEREN KELLEY, Homer Senior Citizens, Inc., said Homer Senior
Citizens, Inc. has 450 members in the Homer area. She said the
proposed legislation would affect "the great pioneers and
buildings of our state." She opined that not supporting seniors
during their vulnerable times is both disrespectful and
irresponsible. She said most seniors, without their benefit,
would have to reduce their spending on food, housing, heat, and
medications. She surmised that it is more likely seniors would
reduce their intake of food. She said the lack of proper
nutrition directly correlates with higher medical costs. She
related that the average senior is 75 years of age, is on a
limited income, and often has chronic health conditions. Ms.
Kelley reiterated that seniors built the state that others get
to enjoy.
9:01:28 AM
JIM HORNADAY stated that although he serves on the Senior
Citizen Board, he was testifying on behalf of himself. He
stated opposition to the removal of senior citizen benefits,
because "these are the most needy people in Alaska." He said
[HB 60] would cause a number of seniors to miss meals, which he
advised against. He asked the committee to consider additional
revenues, in addition to [the proposed cuts].
9:02:24 AM
DALBERT PUNGOWIYI, President, Native Council of Savoonga, spoke
on behalf of elders in Savoonga and the rest of the state,
especially those in remote communities, where the cost of living
is astronomical, and elders depend upon their benefits. He said
seniors "carried us through our hardest times in the past," and
"thanks to them we're all here." He said we must not forget the
hard work our elders did, and we must pay our respect to them.
He asked the committee, on behalf of those seniors, to [oppose
HB 60].
9:04:25 AM
DAVID BLACKETER, Immediate Past Chair, Alaska Commission on
Aging, first testified on his own behalf. He stated he is 83
and his wife is 79, and they live on his social security; at
tier 3, they each receive $76 a month. He said this is helpful,
but the reduction from $125 to $76 a couple years ago required
them to tighten their belts even more than they already had. He
said rent is due on the first of the month and social security
comes on the third of the month. The budget must also cover car
repair so that he and his wife can shop for groceries and get to
their medical appointments. Mr. Blacketer said he would now
speak as the immediate past chair of the Alaska Commission on
Aging. He stated that the commission wants to "kill or put down
this bill, HB 60." [This portion of Mr. Blacketer's testimony
was indiscernible due to technical difficulties.] Mr. Blacketer
surmised that not only he and his wife, but also those receiving
senior benefits and those who may need them, would not want HB
60 to be passed out of committee.
9:07:02 AM
DAVID OTNESS, as a 12-year resident of Cordova and overall 68-
year resident of Alaska, third generation, said he has watched
the change of society from territorial days to present. He
remarked his amazement to find out there are only three people
who work to process the 11-12,000 applications. He stated that
Alaska has "revenue in abundance," and he mentioned Senate Bill
21 [passed during the Twenty-Eighth Alaska State Legislature]
"for a million barrels a day" and "its ongoing oil tax credits."
He said, "It's such a huge slap in the face to Alaskans that
this governor would choose to reward stockholders, largely hedge
fund back east and worldwide, rather than to allow Alaskans to
maintain themselves in dignity in their final years." He said
Senate Bill 21 brought Alaska "right to this brink" and "now
they're coming for more."
MR. OTNESS talked about the disparity of buying power with food
stamps in rural communities compared to urban. He recommended
people read an editorial in the 4/3/19 Juneau Empire, which
"might give a better overview in exactly where we are and what
this governor is trying to do to us as a state." He recommended
understanding the Constitution of the State of Alaska and "how
it works for our benefit and not private corporation."
9:10:01 AM
MIKE COONS, President, Association of Mature American Citizens
(AMAC) - Greater Alaska Chapter; Public Member, Commission on
Aging, testifying in both capacities and as a conservative
Alaskan, stated that "the Commission on Aging has voted to
opposed HB 60," and although he initially abstained, he
reluctantly voted in opposition to the bill. He explained that
he is a strong supporter of Governor Dunleavy. He said a poll
of AMAC members showed strong support for HB 60 and the
governor. He stated he is now fully in support of the bill.
Mr. Coons opined that the current House Majority Coalition
supports "big government." He talked about the budget decisions
of the past. He opined, "This opposition to HB 60 is a full-on
political assault using all tactics, fears, and lies." He said
the truth is that the governor's budget will put Alaska's
financial house in order, and seniors will get more per month
from the permanent fund dividend than they do currently. He
indicated that the governor's budget would bring the state out
of a four-year recession he said was created by the legislature
and a former governor.
9:12:30 AM
PATRICK CURTIS, Program Director, Anchorage Senior Activity
Center, stated that adjectives such as "vulnerable" and "vital"
do not convey the stories people share in person. He indicated
that seniors' faces show the physical and emotional stresses of
poverty and hardship anticipated by the proposed cut to senior
benefits. He said there is a need to address budget issues, but
HB 60 would be "one of the wrong choices." He urged the
committee to reject the proposed legislation and support those
folks who founded Alaska.
9:13:21 AM
ANNE DOERPINGHAUS shared that she has been a nurse in her
community for 26 years, 12 of which she spent in elder care.
She now works with vulnerable children and families in times of
crisis. She stated that seniors are major supports for
families, because they provide shelter for children and
grandchildren when jobs and relationships change, they take in
and feed grandchildren in times of trouble. She said many times
elders help family members through illnesses - even more so in
rural communities. She said she knows elders are fragile and
living on low budgets, but "they are the positive engines of our
economy." To those who do not like "big government," she said,
"The alternative to government is a living wage for families,
supports for seniors, so that we can, in fact, be there for each
other." She shared her experience has shown that many elders
put their families first and never say no to providing food and
shelter. She asked the committee to oppose HB 60.
9:15:06 AM
JONATHAN STRONG, Senior Citizens of Kodiak, shared how he had
helped a 65-year-old senior with disabilities apply for senior
benefits for the first time. Without those benefits, the person
could not afford basic personal needs and had not had a haircut
in several years. He said on behalf of this person and Senior
Citizens of Kodiak, he opposed HB 60.
9:16:05 AM
KAREN CAMERON stated that she receives $76 a month from the
Senior Benefits Program. She is a fourth generation Alaskan,
who has worked hard all her life. She said she was a regional
administrator for 20 years in Los Angeles County, making six
figures. She became ill a few years ago, and the expenses
involved with her illness lead to the loss of her savings, her
investments, and her home. She said she is no longer able to
work, and the $76 [a month in senior benefits] is a lifeline to
her. She said she feels gratitude for that money, but even with
that benefit, she has not been able to pay for her medication
for the past couple of years. She indicated that she is $25
over the limit for receiving Medicaid. Ms. Cameron said right
now she has nothing to eat but top ramen for another week and a
half. She said she cannot afford to go to the senior activities
center. She gave up her dog, because she could not afford to
care for it. She stated that she lives with approximately 400
other seniors, half of whom receive a bonus, and she said it is
tragic to see what these seniors go without. Even so, they
share as much as they can. She said, "When I started hearing
that the governor was going to cut this out -- people just don't
come out of their rooms anymore."
9:18:58 AM
GORDON GLASER, Anchorage Senior Activities Center, stated that
although the center has not presently taken an official
position, it is circulating "a letter of support opposing repeal
of Senate Bill 60 [passed during the Thirtieth Alaska State
Legislature] repealing the Senior Benefits Program." Mr. Glaser
stated that there are other sources of support for the elderly,
but at the center about 70 percent of participants pay on a
sliding scale because they are below the federal poverty
guidelines. He said, "Those people don't have another source."
In terms of planning and direction, he stated, "When you're at
the bottom of the hole, the best policy is to stop digging." He
opined that before reducing the resources of "those people on
the edge," it is important to understand what the consequences
of that action will be. He concluded, "Moving blindly is not
good public policy."
9:21:05 AM
GEORGE PIERCE observed that there were sad people testifying.
He stated opposition to HB 60, which he called sad and shameful.
He said it is the job of the legislature to protect the people
of Alaska. He said reducing senior benefit payments will drive
seniors onto welfare. He said he has lived [in Alaska] for 30
years and spent all his money here. He said senior benefits
help with food and medication. He advised, "Stop funding
nonprofits and go after the oil taxes and cut their subsidies."
He said the permanent fund dividend that was taken was bad for
seniors. He opined, "It's the lowest you can go taking from the
poor and needy." He questioned giving billions in oil revenue
incentives but not giving a couple million to seniors through
benefits. He called this "sad and shameful." He asked, "These
people are already in poverty. Why would you hurt them more?"
He asked the committee to do the right thing by putting HB 60 in
the trash. He indicated that Alaska ranks fourth in the country
for millionaires, so that is who should be taxed - not the poor.
9:23:03 AM
IDA NELSON testified in opposition to HB 60 and taking away the
lifeline of seniors. She said she helps elders in her village,
and with their benefits they are able to pay for heating oil,
food, and living independently. They would lose their
independence under HB 60.
9:24:02 AM
PAUL SHERRY said he is a retired health care administrator, who
opposes HB 60. He said he supports the Senior Benefits Program.
He said there are demands not met by the state or federal
government that other agencies are struggling to address. He
said many of the seniors he works with are making $1,300 a
month, perhaps $16,000 a year, while many of the administrators
make ten times that amount. He said it is discouraging that the
focus is being put on seniors and students when trying to
balance the state budget. He stated that for many seniors, a
benefit of $175 a month is 15 percent of their income and living
without would mean figuring out how to cut expenses even
further. He expressed support for the Senior Benefits Program.
He said, "Another $1,500 in dividends doesn't offset $2,100 in
senior benefits." He said there is revenue available to cover
these benefits. He stated, "You just have to right the ship
that the new governor has tipped on its side."
9:26:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS stated that the proposed budget
cut angers him, and the proposal itself he finds unconscionable
because of the amount of uncertainty and stress it causes
Alaska's most vulnerable. He mentioned the proposed price
increase on the Pioneer Home cost, and he said he knows there
are residents there who have stopped eating due to the amount of
stress this has caused. Anecdotes have been heard around the
state regarding the stress people are experiencing. He
concluded, "Even though it will not pass the legislature - I can
state that as a fact - I don't know what the governor's line-
item veto pen will do - that's between him and Alaska; but I
think even putting this forward is deeply, deeply
disappointing."
9:27:48 AM
JO KENNEDY asked the committee to "look harder at the Adult
Public Assistance program," which she said is open to "just
about anybody." She said she has witnessed abuse in the
program. She emphasized that she is against getting rid of the
program, because "a nation or state that forgets its seniors
will soon be forgotten itself." She expressed appreciation for
living in a country where she has the right to [testify], and
she urged the committee not to pass HB 60.
9:28:59 AM
NIKKI POLLOCK, Director, Senior Services, testified in
opposition to HB 60. She said Senior Services in Bethel serves
approximately 117 elders Monday through Friday; in the past six
months, Senior Services has helped 42 elders "with information,
assistance, and referral." She said many elders are referred to
[the Adult Public Assistance program] to sign up for senior
benefits. She said she knows firsthand the importance of senior
benefits to elders in paying for their most basic needs. She
said in Bethel, the cost of water is approximately $9.50 per
gallon. She said without the senior benefits, she knows many
elders would go hungry, would not have the funds to pay for
water, sewer, or electricity, and would have exacerbated health
issues. She emphasized that the Senior Benefits Program is of
the utmost importance and "we must take care of our elders."
She mentioned "what they've done to get to become elders" as
being a reason that "we need to be able to support them
financially." She said she has spoken in support of the
benefits program in the past, and she knows firsthand the
positive impact the program has on elders, and she indicated
that one of the impacts is in preventing "premature or permanent
institutionalization" in long-term care facilities. She opined
that doing away with the Senior Benefits Program is not the
right thing to do.
9:31:57 AM
MATT DONAHOE said he has been a resident of Alaska for 46 years
and has been a small boat fisherman for 40 years. He mentioned
the raw fish tax being taken away from communities, and he said
he has never filed for any public assistance until last year,
when he applied for senior benefits. He said he had planned on
fishing to fund his retirement but indicated that fishing
policies made by the state may have affected that plan. He said
he knows quite a few fishermen who have applied for the senior
benefit. He stated opposition to HB 60, and he related that he
has heard some tragic stories.
9:34:27 AM
JAYME ANDREAN, Volunteer, AARP; Chair, Juneau AARP Community
Action Team, stated that the focus is to allow seniors to age
with "the highest quality of life" and "lowest level of
expense." She explained, "There's a continuum of care that
takes place as seniors age, and we can keep people independent,
in their own homes, ... [as long as possible], with the highest
level of quality of life, the better off everybody is." Doing
so saves money, because it is more expensive to enter assisted
living and "nursing care."
9:35:40 AM
DENICE DAIELLA, Executive Director, Alaskan Commission on Aging,
explained that the commission is a governor-appointed board
under the Department of Health and Social Services. The
commission plans services for seniors, educates Alaskans about
senior issues, and makes recommendations to policy makers
regarding the needs of seniors. She said, "So, our views
represent those of the commission and not necessarily those of
the administration." She noted that the commission had
submitted written testimony to the committee. She said the
commission does not support passage of HB 60. She said a survey
conducted by the commission found that concern about financial
security was the number two issue of the 3,117 people 55 and
older who completed the survey statewide. She said the
commission has supported the Senior Benefits Program over the
years, as well as its reauthorization. She related that the
commission believes the program "is good public policy that
helps people to afford ... their basic essentials." She added,
"It helps to support their dignity, self-determination, and - in
the long run - saves money in terms of health care and long-term
care costs." She thanked the committee for the opportunity to
testify on behalf of many people that believe senior benefits is
a good program.
9:37:45 AM
ERIN WALKEN TOLLES, Executive Director, Catholic Community
Services (CCS), informed the committee that CCS is a faith-
based, regional non-profit entity serving Southeast Alaska with
health care and social services. She said CCS has 11 senior
centers and serves over 3,000 yearly with meals, transportation
service, and case management, and a variety of other services.
She shared that in her recent travels to senior centers in
Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau, she has heard from seniors who are
"distraught" and "terrified." She said a number of seniors have
told her that already they do not have the money to buy meat;
the only meat they eat is provided by the senior center. She
indicated that without their benefit, those seniors have said
they would not be able to afford food at all and are concerned
about homelessness. Ms. Tolles said she understands the need to
balance the budget, but thinks creativity is needed, as well as
discussion about the PFD. She opined:
Not only is it morally wrong to balance the budget on
the backs of the most vulnerable in our communities,
but also, when you think long term, we're only going
to see savings for a short time, as these seniors
decline - due to poor ... nutrition, due to
homelessness, due to lack of being able to afford
medication and heat - and we're going to have those
expenses transferred to our health care and our social
services within the next couple of years. You're not
going to see cost savings; you're not going to
accomplish what you want; you're only going to hurt
people if this goes forward.
MS. TOLLES emphasized her opposition to HB 60 and encouraged the
committee to adopt long-term thinking in terms of the state's
vulnerable citizens and social and healthcare systems.
9:39:55 AM
CAROLINE DEMMERT said she was "speaking for a lot of our
people." She said her grandmother and mother collected senior
benefits. She returned to Alaska because she thought it would
help her to receive her benefits. She said there are many for
whom these benefits provide the only hot meal they can get. She
said she is a Tlingit, who has lived in Ketchikan, Wrangell,
Juneau, Hoonah, and Kake, Alaska, and has observed that many do
not get benefits because they do not qualify for them. She
indicated that it is just a matter of making one dollar over the
limit to be disqualified. She said she worked four jobs in
order to raise her four children. She stated that she does not
discriminate against anyone in terms of receiving benefits,
because "we do have this extra money," which she said she calls
"our old lady benefits." She said the benefits are used to buy
food, and by the end of the month, many people do not have food.
She said too many benefits are being taken away. Many people
are still alive because of the benefits; they help everyone take
care of each other. She asked, "Once we're given something to
live on, why take it away? I would like to see any of you live
here on a thousand dollars a month and pay your rent and all
your utilities." She said people are tired of trying to live
off spare change. She concluded, "We keep our change jars that
we might need a loaf of bread."
9:42:40 AM
ANN STEPETIN, Elderly Services, Central Council Tlingit & Haida
Indian Tribes of Alaska ("Tlingit & Haida"), pointed to her
elders in the room and said she was blessed to be there with
them. Ms. Stepetin tearfully related that Elderly Services
serves a lunch on the last Thursday of each month, and an elder
told her that by the end of the month he has no money to feed
himself and was so appreciative to have found out about the
lunch served at Tlingit & Haida. She relayed that in her work,
she sees elders who must give up food for a week in order to
afford medicine when needed. She said she is there to "hold up"
her elders, and sometimes that means paying for things out of
her own pockets. She said Tlingit & Haida is looking for
alternative ways to help its elders because of "these things
that are coming down from the state." Ms. Stepetin stated
opposition for HB 60. She indicated that [senior benefits] feed
people and keep them from being homeless. She said she serves
those in Juneau but related a time when an elder in Washington
state went without food for a week because of a holdup in the
finance department that made it impossible to get food to the
woman.
9:45:15 AM
BARBARA BOLTON said she is a senior who has lived in Anchorage
for 12 years. She said she loves the state and has made friends
through the senior programs. She stated her opposition to HB
60. She said, like other seniors her age, she lives at the
poverty level. She said $76 is not a gift; it is the means for
food, transportation, and medication for seniors.
9:46:54 AM
MARY ALICE KNOTTS recalled working hard in the 1970s as part of
a committee that fought to get a facility built for seniors.
Seniors were leaving Alaska, and the efforts were made "to
maintain and improve senior benefits" so that seniors could
choose to stay in Alaska. She related that she had to leave
Alaska for a while for medical reasons. She stated, "To hear
that we are still battling the people with money in their
pockets to keep our seniors fed and housed is bad indeed." She
questioned what kind of drugs the governor and legislature are
"on" and suggested those pills should be shared with seniors so
"we don't care what happens to people either." Ms. Knotts
emphasized her opposition to HB 60 and said the bill "needs to
be cremated immediately."
9:48:51 AM
INDIANNA TURKISHER, Manager, Food Bank of Alaska, said the food
bank helps people apply for benefits, and one of those is senior
benefits. She said seniors tell her they use their benefits to
pay for food, medication, and transportation to medical
appointments. The threat of the benefits being cut means access
to those things will be reduced. She said her mother will
qualify for the Senior Benefits Program in two years. Ms.
Turkisher shared that as a sixth-generation Alaskan, she would
like to be able to stay in Alaska for the duration of her life;
however, when she sees "how we prioritize seniors right now," it
makes her question whether Alaska is a place in which she wants
to stay.
9:50:28 AM
TERESA MCLAIN stated that she lives in a large community of
senior and disabled people in Anchorage. She emphasized how
upset she was by the proposed cuts to senior benefits and
indicated [those cuts] would put her health at "grave risk."
She related that she comes from a career military family wherein
service to the country is valued. She said she has contributed
to her family and community - the latter of which she described
as the world she has traveled. She continued as follows:
I'm speaking to you hungry because I didn't have food
this morning. Throughout my childhood and adulthood,
I have contributed to my community, running the
household, taking care of my brothers and my sick
mother while my career military U.S. Marine father was
an inspector general of the Pacific Rim in Vietnam
making sure soldiers' weapons were in working order.
Due to my father coming home traumatized, I developed
PTSD myself, and that's why I'm on disability. Having
seen the suffering of war, I have chosen to live my
life in the very modest-means way, to not be one of
the greedy people taking resources from others.
MS. MCLAIN spoke of values and apologized when she started to
cry. She said she moved to Alaska to be near her daughter, son-
in-law, and grandchildren. She said as an elder she has a lot
to offer. She values education and having a wide range of
experience to offer to the community. She emphasized her
opposition to HB 60, saying she feels it is not a creative or
resourceful way "to use one of Alaska's best resources of wise
and experienced people who have a lot to offer in guidance for
grandchildren and out adult children, as well."
9:53:41 AM
WILLIAM HARRINGTON stated that he is 70 years old and spends
$80,000 a year helping to support five grandchildren. He said
he would not qualify for senior benefits. He stated that he
feels strongly that "those in their last years deserve a full
stomach and a safe accommodation." He opined it is a travesty
for a rich state that "has wasted hundreds of millions of
dollars on a pipe dream" to even consider HB 60. He pointed out
that he would spend $800,000 in Alaska over the next ten years,
but "you're not making it very easy for me to want to stay and
spend that money here." He indicated that he had talked to
someone about the uncertainty of the state's future population,
suggesting it could be anywhere from 600,000 to 800,000, at
which point the person responded that maybe it would be 300,000.
9:54:51 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND closed public testimony on HB 60.
9:55:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON indicated that seniors have led the way
for "us all to be here today." She said, "I don't believe we're
going to have [homeless] seniors or hungry seniors." She
recalled that Representative Kreiss-Tomkins had said he was
appalled by HB 60. She noted there are eight freshman
legislators, three of which sit on the House Community and
Regional Affairs Standing Committee. She said, "This didn't
just happen in January. What appalls me is we did not have the
foresight to prevent us from being where we are today." She
thanked those who had testified. She said, "We love you, and
everything's going to be okay."
9:56:11 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN observed that she and others were emotional
about the topic being discussed. She expressed thanks to all
those who made sacrifices in order to testify and remind the
legislature that those who receive the benefits in question are
the most vulnerable of seniors. She talked about the fractional
cost to the state [in providing benefits]. She said recipients
spend every dollar they are given locally; they are not
"snowbirding" or taking vacations; they are "spending their
money to survey in Alaska." Representative Hannan said for 31
years, Alaska had a longevity bonus program not based on
economic need, and in 1972 the state began providing services to
elders to help them be able to remain in the state. She pointed
out that was "before we had large piles of oil money." In the
early 2000s, the state did away with that program and made
benefits needs-based, and she indicated the benefits now [go to]
"people who are at the margins of despair." She noted that she
and Representative Jackson had been appointed to serve on the
state Suicide Council, and she said people may not realize that
there are two groups that are at risk of suicide: young people
"struggling to find their way in the world" and "people at the
end their lives in their aging years" who end their lives early
as a result of isolation and hopelessness. She said she cannot
imagine how a senior, who is currently receiving senior benefits
and may be planning to move into a Pioneer Home, would feel
about [HB 60 and the proposed changes related to the Pioneer
Home]. She continued as follows:
And I feel like ... they're being used as a political
pawn, because we know this is not a program that has
any other funds; it is a program Alaska set out to
give to Alaskans. There [are] no federal receipts for
it; it is general fund money; because Alaska committed
to other Alaskans that we want to be able to keep
people here through their lifespans, not just through
their economic earning years. And if we don't take
care of the most vulnerable at the end of their years,
then we have done nothing as a state to deserve our
wealth. I hope that we do not allow this political
pawn to go any further and that we can assure these
seniors we will make sure that the marginal economic
benefits we share with them is guaranteed.
9:59:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON said he hoped he had heard Co-Chair
Drummond previously state that when the committee gavels out
today, it would "put this bill to rest."
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND answered that Representative Thompson had
heard correctly. She emphasized that she did not intend for HB
60 to travel any further. She said it would have been helpful
to have heard from the commissioner and the department regarding
the estimated cost that would result from removing "these funds
from these vulnerable folks." She predicted it would [surpass]
"the $25 million that we're currently spending."
[HB 60 was held over.]
10:00:21 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 10:00 a.m.